- your morning starts with a sunrise 10 miler
- the big trip of the morning consists of attending and strolling through a local Art Fair, complete with fresh squeezed lemonade
- lunch is eaten on the deck
- an hour bike ride followed by jumping in the waves constitutes afternoon activity
- productivity involves working with all the windows open
- fro yo = dinner of champions
- ending the night with "Mean Girls" yesss...quality TV!
Long run in the morning! :)
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
65- up north daze
Oh man, up north days....where do they go?
Today on tap: 18 miles, split into 14 in the morning and a shakeout for later. The 14 went decent. The temps were a bit cooler. I did the first 9 alone at 8:04 pace. I was 'racing' my virtual partner on my Garmin at the end. Yeah, I'm a dork. My mom met me at the top of the drive and we continued on the 5 mile 'hill route.' Good times as usual. Despite the fact that my mom and I live together right now up north and are together alot, there is seriously not a moment of silence on our runs. We talk constantly. I love it.
Then, somehow the afternoon slipped away. Between boiling and de-cobbing a million ears of 'the best' corn with my dad for freezing, trying to fix an old computer, and falling asleep in the hammock (so breezy and perfect out!) it was 4pm and time for my shakeout. I did it totally 'unplugged' with no Garmin, watch, or ipod (usually I where all three!) It was actually really nice and freeing, and my tight legs felt better by the end. Then, I went into the 'city' where there was a huge street sale on main street with live music and entertainment and stuff. All of the stores had tent sales and it was fun just to wander around. I went to the running store and saw one of my 'running mentors' and tried to work him for a good deal on shoes. No luck, lol. I stopped by my favorite cafe to get GF stuff, then picked up fro yo on the way home. I justed pulled another batch of zucchini muffins out of the oven while watching really quality TV...Aka Wifeswap.
OK, so this has totally turned into my diary of my day. Lame. But it was a good day! 18 miles, some relaxing, some productivity and some non-running related fun!
Peace, Love, and Running! :)
Today on tap: 18 miles, split into 14 in the morning and a shakeout for later. The 14 went decent. The temps were a bit cooler. I did the first 9 alone at 8:04 pace. I was 'racing' my virtual partner on my Garmin at the end. Yeah, I'm a dork. My mom met me at the top of the drive and we continued on the 5 mile 'hill route.' Good times as usual. Despite the fact that my mom and I live together right now up north and are together alot, there is seriously not a moment of silence on our runs. We talk constantly. I love it.
Then, somehow the afternoon slipped away. Between boiling and de-cobbing a million ears of 'the best' corn with my dad for freezing, trying to fix an old computer, and falling asleep in the hammock (so breezy and perfect out!) it was 4pm and time for my shakeout. I did it totally 'unplugged' with no Garmin, watch, or ipod (usually I where all three!) It was actually really nice and freeing, and my tight legs felt better by the end. Then, I went into the 'city' where there was a huge street sale on main street with live music and entertainment and stuff. All of the stores had tent sales and it was fun just to wander around. I went to the running store and saw one of my 'running mentors' and tried to work him for a good deal on shoes. No luck, lol. I stopped by my favorite cafe to get GF stuff, then picked up fro yo on the way home. I justed pulled another batch of zucchini muffins out of the oven while watching really quality TV...Aka Wifeswap.
OK, so this has totally turned into my diary of my day. Lame. But it was a good day! 18 miles, some relaxing, some productivity and some non-running related fun!
Peace, Love, and Running! :)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
66- better, much better
Today was a much better day in the world of running for me. I had to make up the milage of yesterday, but still use it as a 'recovery' day. So, I knew 17 miles were on tap total for the day. I started the day with a new route that took me to the beach, along some sand trails, and back out onto the road and to the boat launch to meet my mom. It was great to have a new loop that ended up being about 7.5 miles and I hit an 8:08 pace, which I am pleased with since it was on trails for part of it. My mom and I ran 4 miles on a shaded road which went by really fast. Actually our pace was really fast which was fun. I like to push my mom every once in awhile! ;)
Morning run 11.5 miles, done.
Then I worked. I actually got a ton of prep done and it felt great! My mom was out with a friend, and the house was quiet and cool and breezy, so I SO wanted to nap. I kept telling myself 'just work 10 more minutes' and pretty soon, my mom returned and I had been focused and nap free for 2 hours! This. is. huge.
Tonite's run happened later than anticipated, but was awesome. I did the "hill" loop. This loop starts off going up a mile long hill. Actually, the street is called "Mountain Road" which generally isn't a good sign for runners. My Garmin never fired up until the top, so I don't know how ridiculously slow my pace was. Buttt, the next 4.5 miles after Mountain were great! 7:50, 6:37!!! (downhill), 7:21, 7:25, 7:25 for a 7:19 average! That is the fastest I've run up here all summer, so I was pumped.
Evening run, 5.5 miles, done.
17 miles in the books, and turkey meatloaf for dinner. Can't complain about a day like that!
I'm on a prepping roll so I'm off to tackle sommore! :)
Morning run 11.5 miles, done.
Then I worked. I actually got a ton of prep done and it felt great! My mom was out with a friend, and the house was quiet and cool and breezy, so I SO wanted to nap. I kept telling myself 'just work 10 more minutes' and pretty soon, my mom returned and I had been focused and nap free for 2 hours! This. is. huge.
Tonite's run happened later than anticipated, but was awesome. I did the "hill" loop. This loop starts off going up a mile long hill. Actually, the street is called "Mountain Road" which generally isn't a good sign for runners. My Garmin never fired up until the top, so I don't know how ridiculously slow my pace was. Buttt, the next 4.5 miles after Mountain were great! 7:50, 6:37!!! (downhill), 7:21, 7:25, 7:25 for a 7:19 average! That is the fastest I've run up here all summer, so I was pumped.
Evening run, 5.5 miles, done.
17 miles in the books, and turkey meatloaf for dinner. Can't complain about a day like that!
I'm on a prepping roll so I'm off to tackle sommore! :)
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
67- *meh*
Ok, this one is a quicky for sure.
Today was a run FAIL. Despite heading out 'early' at 8:30am, it was majorly hot and humid. I picked a very hilly route that I've been avoiding all summer until I was more ready. 15 miles with crazy elevation changes on roads with no tree cover. Although, it wasn't terrible, I didn't drink until 11 miles in which I found out later was too long. The last 4 miles consist of 3 miles of a crazy uphill, followed by a steep downhill that deadends into the Bay in town. I literally ran right into the water. My pace wasn't great, but OK for a hilly 15. However, my mom picked me up and as we were driving back home my stomach started KILLING me. As in, I couldn't even sit up straight. Total buzz kill. It didn't get better for hours after until I finally forced myself to drink. As it turned out, that helped tons, so I think that it was major dehydration. Ohh summer. I do love you still, no worries.
So because of that, and because my mom and I had to postpone our trip into the city because of my stomach, I didn't get in my 6 recovery miles tonite. I'll have to do them tomorrow along with my recovery miles, but that's ok. Flexibility is a good thing. Speaking of which, I should probably go stretch for the first time in about oh, 2 months...
My mom and I got some good shopping in. I got some skirts for work (I have to wear a skirt everyday where I work, and it is really hard to find work-appropriate skirts that fit my insanely long legs). Plus, some other randomness that I needed. Good times.
Ok, I'm out for reals now! C-ya!
Today was a run FAIL. Despite heading out 'early' at 8:30am, it was majorly hot and humid. I picked a very hilly route that I've been avoiding all summer until I was more ready. 15 miles with crazy elevation changes on roads with no tree cover. Although, it wasn't terrible, I didn't drink until 11 miles in which I found out later was too long. The last 4 miles consist of 3 miles of a crazy uphill, followed by a steep downhill that deadends into the Bay in town. I literally ran right into the water. My pace wasn't great, but OK for a hilly 15. However, my mom picked me up and as we were driving back home my stomach started KILLING me. As in, I couldn't even sit up straight. Total buzz kill. It didn't get better for hours after until I finally forced myself to drink. As it turned out, that helped tons, so I think that it was major dehydration. Ohh summer. I do love you still, no worries.
So because of that, and because my mom and I had to postpone our trip into the city because of my stomach, I didn't get in my 6 recovery miles tonite. I'll have to do them tomorrow along with my recovery miles, but that's ok. Flexibility is a good thing. Speaking of which, I should probably go stretch for the first time in about oh, 2 months...
My mom and I got some good shopping in. I got some skirts for work (I have to wear a skirt everyday where I work, and it is really hard to find work-appropriate skirts that fit my insanely long legs). Plus, some other randomness that I needed. Good times.
Ok, I'm out for reals now! C-ya!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
68- i did prep work..what!?!?!
Yup, it's true. Today, I actually devoted a serious amount of time to getting my butt in gear prepping to teach. And you know what? It feels so. good. I have my complete first unit for physics all planned, written, and printed and it is awaiting a fresh new binder to jump into! For those who don't remember, I started teaching about a month into the school year last year at my current school, so I don't have anything for the first units in any classes (even physics which I taught last year.) So, I'm planning those from scratch. It just felt good to finally buckle down and get the ball rolling. Although it is just the tip of the iceberg, it feels good to actually SEE the iceberg, and start chipping away at it!
In other news, I ran today. :) The past few weeks my training plan has been really heavy on the milage/doubles early in the week, and then less so later. This worked out really well with my work schedule. This week though, my schedule is more balanced, ie spread throughout the week, which works out cuz I'm not working! Sooo, today was simply a 10 miler 'aerobic' style. I drove to the beach, parked my car and ran the 'hilly route' home (5 miles). My mom met me at the top of the drive, and we ran the 'flat-ish' route back. 'Flat-ish' because there is no where flat up here! I ended the 10 with a half mile or so of barefoot running on the beach, which felt great! Almost as great as jumping in Lake Michigan afterward! Ahhh, mazing.
The rest of the day was spent prepping, and sweating. And making hommade pizza. It is seriously hot here, my mom and I finally caved and put on the AC. The upstairs is so hot I may have to crash in her room. Tomorrow = lots of running + a fun trip into town with my mom. We are trying to squeeze in all of our summer traditions before we both have to head back downstate to be teachers!
Thanks for the comments about my random side-of-the-road running. I don't know why, but I love it. That's just how I roll, I guess. :)
In other news, I ran today. :) The past few weeks my training plan has been really heavy on the milage/doubles early in the week, and then less so later. This worked out really well with my work schedule. This week though, my schedule is more balanced, ie spread throughout the week, which works out cuz I'm not working! Sooo, today was simply a 10 miler 'aerobic' style. I drove to the beach, parked my car and ran the 'hilly route' home (5 miles). My mom met me at the top of the drive, and we ran the 'flat-ish' route back. 'Flat-ish' because there is no where flat up here! I ended the 10 with a half mile or so of barefoot running on the beach, which felt great! Almost as great as jumping in Lake Michigan afterward! Ahhh, mazing.
The rest of the day was spent prepping, and sweating. And making hommade pizza. It is seriously hot here, my mom and I finally caved and put on the AC. The upstairs is so hot I may have to crash in her room. Tomorrow = lots of running + a fun trip into town with my mom. We are trying to squeeze in all of our summer traditions before we both have to head back downstate to be teachers!
Thanks for the comments about my random side-of-the-road running. I don't know why, but I love it. That's just how I roll, I guess. :)
Monday, August 2, 2010
69- up north! let the fun begin!
I'm up north at last for my vacation time! Which means a) good times and b) actual in-home internet! Woo hoo!
So Monday is my 'recovery' day which is almost always an 11 mile day split into 6 morning, and 5 evening. I headed out on my 6 mile loop at about 7:30am. I didn't think my legs were tired when I got up, but they felt TERRIBLE before making it out of my apartment complex! I thought they would loosen up- nope. It was pretty much me dragging myself through 6 miles at about the same pace as yesterday's long run. Which is acceptable for a recovery run, but felt less than ideal. So yeah.
Then, I hopped in the car and started driving with my tired legs and all. I was thinking about how terrible my recovery has been lately, and it was kind of bumming me out. Plus, I knew I had to get 5 more miles in this evening, which is such a short run but was mentally killing me. So, I did what I always do when I'm overthinking a run while driving...pull over to the side of the road and just RUN.
I was actually driving by a lake in the middle of the state that I have thought about running around before. Confession: I have a small obsession with running around lakes. The thought of running around a 'new' lake is slightly more exciting than it should be. Plus, driving through mid-Michigan is pretty much the most boring place on earth, and I was falling asleep behind the wheel. I think it is unnatural too how when I drive anywhere, I think about how it would be to run in there, and picture myself running in the location at the side of the road....yeah, I think that's weird, but true.
So anyways.....
I 'eyeballed' the lake and comparing it to our lake, I figured it couldn't be too much further than 5 miles around. Pulled into a roadside park, roadside change....and was off! Since my legs felt so horrible earlier (and it had only been about 4 hours since) I literally told 'them' (ie my legs) outloud that they could go as slow as they wanted. The first few miles felt stiff, but good. Until I looked at the lake and realized that I was running with a serious tail wind. Yeah, that pretty much turned into a headwind on the way back....Anyway, it was so nice to have a new route and the miles really clicked by. I just sort of kept the lake in sight on my left and picked roads that *I hoped* leg around the lake and back to my car! I knew my pace had to be wicked slow because of the wind and my slowness in general, so I decided in my head that I was running 8:45's. The lake was great in that it had a path right along the water for much of it, unlike our lake where the road is away from the water. Despite the wind, I got back to my car in one piece. Imagine my surprise though, when the route ended up being 7.1 miles and I hit an average of 8:08/mile pace with very even splits! Yeah, I was pumped! Not because that is such an amazing pace, but because it felt about a minute slower! I guess running is alot mental.
Back in the car, and I finished my drive nice and refreshed! My parents had house guests over the weekend so there is an amazing amount of delicious food that I partook in for 'lunch' at 4pm. I got to swim with my dad too, before he headed back downstate this evening. Now, it's just me and my mom. We've got some fun planned but we both also have to work on getting our prep ready (the life of two teachers!) I'm excited though to be settled in, get to sleep, run, and enjoy not working for a week or so.
Yikes, this post was particularly long and boring. Oh, well...thus is life!
Quick recap:
-13 mile day, split into a bad 6 miler and a random/good 7 miler
- up north and work free for 10 days
- good fooood :)
So Monday is my 'recovery' day which is almost always an 11 mile day split into 6 morning, and 5 evening. I headed out on my 6 mile loop at about 7:30am. I didn't think my legs were tired when I got up, but they felt TERRIBLE before making it out of my apartment complex! I thought they would loosen up- nope. It was pretty much me dragging myself through 6 miles at about the same pace as yesterday's long run. Which is acceptable for a recovery run, but felt less than ideal. So yeah.
Then, I hopped in the car and started driving with my tired legs and all. I was thinking about how terrible my recovery has been lately, and it was kind of bumming me out. Plus, I knew I had to get 5 more miles in this evening, which is such a short run but was mentally killing me. So, I did what I always do when I'm overthinking a run while driving...pull over to the side of the road and just RUN.
I was actually driving by a lake in the middle of the state that I have thought about running around before. Confession: I have a small obsession with running around lakes. The thought of running around a 'new' lake is slightly more exciting than it should be. Plus, driving through mid-Michigan is pretty much the most boring place on earth, and I was falling asleep behind the wheel. I think it is unnatural too how when I drive anywhere, I think about how it would be to run in there, and picture myself running in the location at the side of the road....yeah, I think that's weird, but true.
So anyways.....
I 'eyeballed' the lake and comparing it to our lake, I figured it couldn't be too much further than 5 miles around. Pulled into a roadside park, roadside change....and was off! Since my legs felt so horrible earlier (and it had only been about 4 hours since) I literally told 'them' (ie my legs) outloud that they could go as slow as they wanted. The first few miles felt stiff, but good. Until I looked at the lake and realized that I was running with a serious tail wind. Yeah, that pretty much turned into a headwind on the way back....Anyway, it was so nice to have a new route and the miles really clicked by. I just sort of kept the lake in sight on my left and picked roads that *I hoped* leg around the lake and back to my car! I knew my pace had to be wicked slow because of the wind and my slowness in general, so I decided in my head that I was running 8:45's. The lake was great in that it had a path right along the water for much of it, unlike our lake where the road is away from the water. Despite the wind, I got back to my car in one piece. Imagine my surprise though, when the route ended up being 7.1 miles and I hit an average of 8:08/mile pace with very even splits! Yeah, I was pumped! Not because that is such an amazing pace, but because it felt about a minute slower! I guess running is alot mental.
Back in the car, and I finished my drive nice and refreshed! My parents had house guests over the weekend so there is an amazing amount of delicious food that I partook in for 'lunch' at 4pm. I got to swim with my dad too, before he headed back downstate this evening. Now, it's just me and my mom. We've got some fun planned but we both also have to work on getting our prep ready (the life of two teachers!) I'm excited though to be settled in, get to sleep, run, and enjoy not working for a week or so.
Yikes, this post was particularly long and boring. Oh, well...thus is life!
Quick recap:
-13 mile day, split into a bad 6 miler and a random/good 7 miler
- up north and work free for 10 days
- good fooood :)
Sunday, August 1, 2010
70- apparently I'm a slow learner...
70 days = 10 weeks = eeek!
So, although I call myself a runner and am an educated person, sometimes you wouldn't think so! Today I made all the mistakes regarding my long run that I have been making and then blogging about during this training cycle. Hmm, let's list them, shall we?
- waiting to leave until almost 11am when the temps are 85-90 degrees out and the sun is up full force
- planning a 'new' route that "probably" goes by a gas station so I can get some water...um yeah, that was a fail.
- going out too fast before realizing that there would be no water coming for awhile
- wearing my ipod even though I never turned it on! hense just adding dead weight to my arm and reinforcing my bad tan lines...
So yeah, lots of stupidity led to a slow-ish run. 18 miles at 8:38 pace. I would have liked it to be longer and faster, but you can't win them all, ya know? The route was really pretty, dirt roads and rolling hills for the first 10 miles or so. I'd do it again- just not in this heat! I got just under 100 miles in this week so that is good. Plus, I have time off from the bakery which means that my sleep won't (hopefully) be so deprived by my long run day next week and can do it at a reasonable hour! Heck, I might even 'treat' myself to doing it on Saturday because this Saturday will be the first Saturday I have had off in forever and the last I will have off in forever for the markets.
Other than that...hmm, that was basically my day. I guess that's what happens when you sleep in entirely too late, run long/slow, swim, lunch, nap, then drive up to Panera to go online! I do have to tidy up/pack up tonite to go back up north tomorrow morning. So. Pumped.
Hope everyone had a great day!
So, although I call myself a runner and am an educated person, sometimes you wouldn't think so! Today I made all the mistakes regarding my long run that I have been making and then blogging about during this training cycle. Hmm, let's list them, shall we?
- waiting to leave until almost 11am when the temps are 85-90 degrees out and the sun is up full force
- planning a 'new' route that "probably" goes by a gas station so I can get some water...um yeah, that was a fail.
- going out too fast before realizing that there would be no water coming for awhile
- wearing my ipod even though I never turned it on! hense just adding dead weight to my arm and reinforcing my bad tan lines...
So yeah, lots of stupidity led to a slow-ish run. 18 miles at 8:38 pace. I would have liked it to be longer and faster, but you can't win them all, ya know? The route was really pretty, dirt roads and rolling hills for the first 10 miles or so. I'd do it again- just not in this heat! I got just under 100 miles in this week so that is good. Plus, I have time off from the bakery which means that my sleep won't (hopefully) be so deprived by my long run day next week and can do it at a reasonable hour! Heck, I might even 'treat' myself to doing it on Saturday because this Saturday will be the first Saturday I have had off in forever and the last I will have off in forever for the markets.
Other than that...hmm, that was basically my day. I guess that's what happens when you sleep in entirely too late, run long/slow, swim, lunch, nap, then drive up to Panera to go online! I do have to tidy up/pack up tonite to go back up north tomorrow morning. So. Pumped.
Hope everyone had a great day!
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